The only Baltimore Irish bar crawl you need [Pictures]

Kaitlin Newman / Baltimore Sun

The month of March in Baltimore might as well be called St. Patrick's Month, thanks in part to many promotional companies organizing Irish-themed pub crawls each and every weekend, replete with Fireball and Miller Lite specials. For some of us, however, March 17 remains St. Patrick's Day and with Parade day (Sunday) coming in a close second in importance, it's helpful to remind ourselves every so often of Baltimore's finer Irish drinking establishments that aren't situated in Canton Square and are worthy of our patronage on Actual St. Patrick's Day. So, we've assembled a list of such places, all convenient to our own free Charm City Circulator routes. So slap on your finest green duds, hop on the bus and raise a pint (responsibly); there are lots of great options to choose from. -- By Evan Siple

The month of March in Baltimore might as well be called St. Patrick's Month, thanks in part to many promotional companies organizing Irish-themed pub crawls each and every weekend, replete with Fireball and Miller Lite specials. For some of us, however, March 17 remains St. Patrick's Day and with Parade day (Sunday) coming in a close second in importance, it's helpful to remind ourselves every so often of Baltimore's finer Irish drinking establishments that aren't situated in Canton Square and are worthy of our patronage on Actual St. Patrick's Day. So, we've assembled a list of such places, all convenient to our own free Charm City Circulator routes. So slap on your finest green duds, hop on the bus and raise a pint (responsibly); there are lots of great options to choose from. -- By Evan Siple (Kaitlin Newman / Baltimore Sun)

131 S. Schroeder St., Hollins Market Convenient to: Orange Line, stop 212 (about 300 feet) Estimated Crowd: Stressless Patrick's, which boasts the title of "Oldest Irish Pub in America" (which may be true, having been in the same location since 1863), is steeped in tradition and saturated with history. Opening the doors at 10 a.m. on Sunday for the parade, the doors will close only from 2 a.m. until noon on St. Paddy's so owner Pat Rowley and his crew, as he explains, "can catch their breath" and start the celebration anew with more live music, a full Irish menu and pour hundreds more shamrock-topped Guinness pints. It's not just a bar, it's a history lesson.

131 S. Schroeder St., Hollins Market Convenient to: Orange Line, stop 212 (about 300 feet) Estimated Crowd: Stressless Patrick's, which boasts the title of "Oldest Irish Pub in America" (which may be true, having been in the same location since 1863), is steeped in tradition and saturated with history. Opening the doors at 10 a.m. on Sunday for the parade, the doors will close only from 2 a.m. until noon on St. Paddy's so owner Pat Rowley and his crew, as he explains, "can catch their breath" and start the celebration anew with more live music, a full Irish menu and pour hundreds more shamrock-topped Guinness pints. It's not just a bar, it's a history lesson. (Gene Sweeney Jr. / Baltimore Sun)